Suspension-type insulator.



K: C. RANDALL.

SUSPENSION TYPE INSULATOR. APPLICATION UL ED MAY 411915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

WITNESSES inD srnrrns PATENT OFFICE.

KARI- c. RANDALL, or Enenwoon PARK, PENNsYLvANiA, AssIeNoR 'ro WESTING- HOUSE unscrew AND MANUFACTURING'G MPA Y, A CORPORATION or PENN- sYLvANIa. 5

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KARL C. RANDA LL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Alle-.

ghe'n'y and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suspension-Type Insulators, of which the rary mechanical deformations by reason of being swung bywind currents without decreasing the insulating properties of the structure.

In my insulating structure, I use a small amount only of insulating material and conducting material but the insulating and conducting members are so shaped and interrelated as to utilize the maximum insulating strength of the air.

'When a difference of potential exists between adjacent conducting bodies, the air is subjectedto stresses by reason of the electric field produced. A. field of this character may be represented by means of'lines called electrostatic flow-lines, the distribution andv arrangement of which are dependent uponthe shapes and sizes of the conducting bodies, their spacing, the character and shape of the insulating medium, and the potential to which the bodies are subjected.

In the present invention, I have utilized 46 the principle disclosed in U. S. Patent No.

1,129,520. While the insulating bodies or members employed in my suspension-type insulator are of a standard form, the conducting bodies surrounding or inclosing the insulating members are so. shaped that the stresses arising from the electrostatic flowlines extending between the adjacent surfaces thereof are precluded from breaking down the interposed bodies of air, the insulating strength of which is to be utilized to its full value. It is known, as disclosed in the aforementioned patent, that the conducting bodies may be so formed that undue concentrations of electrostatic stresses upon the adjacent and opposedsurfaces thereof may be substantially precluded. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

thereupon of electrostatic flow-lines.

S lJ' SPENSION-TYPE INSULA'IOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

Application filed may 4, 1915. Serial No. 25,726.

An object of my invention is to provide an insulator of the aforementioned character in which the conducting bodies afford mechanical protection to the insulating bodies shaped as to preclude undue concentratiops n this manner, a very compact and efiicient insulator for high voltages is provided. Referring to the drawing, the single fig ure of which is a View, partially in elevation,

and partially in section, of a structure embodying a form of my invention, a high-potential line conductor 1 engages a'clamp 2 that is supported, by means of a link 3, from an insulating member 4 which constitutes the lowest insulating member of my suspe'n5 sion-type insulator 5. By means of an eyelet 6, the structure 5 and the associated line conductor 1 may be supported from any suitable tower or pole.

The suspension-type insulator 5 comprises a series of superposed bell-shaped conducting members 7 which are rigidly connected to the insulating members 4. The insulating members 4 are flexibly connected to one another by means of flexible connections 8, and

a bell-shaped conducting member 7 is disposed on each linsulating member 4 adjacent to the flexible connection 8. In the figure shown, the insulating members 4 constitute a standard type of strain insulator having a corrugated surface, as indicated. It is to be ture. The upper portion 9 of the member 7 constitutes a curved surface having a relatively small radius of curvature and the understood, however, that other formsof inlower portion 10 constitutes a curved surface v having a relatively large radius of curvature. The bell-shaped members 7 arenested. within, but spaced from, one another in sucha manner that the upper porti0n'9 of a lower member isdisposed adjacent to the lower portion 10 of an upper member. It

will be understood that the radii of curvature of the portions 9 and 10 are comparatively. large in order that the lines of force extending between adjacent conducting surfaces are precluded from forming undue concentrations and thereby subjecting the permit of such deformations and, at the same time, be kept spaced from one another sui'licient distances at all times to avoid de-,

creasingthe insulating strength of the support The flexible connections 8 permit relative movementsof the insulator sections under the above stated conditions, and the portions 9 andlO of adjacent members 7 are of such shape and relative location to maintain the desired insulating properties. It W111 be noted. that the metallic mcmbers 7 so inclose the insulators 4: as to pro tect them from mechanical shocks or blows and'from the acc'mnulation of dirt and other "deposits which would decrease the insulating strength of the structure.

l fhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1., An insulating. structure comprising a plurality of alternately-{imposed conducting and insulating; bodies, the insulating bodies being inclosed within the conducting bodies which consist oi. bell-shaped members having surfaces of double curvature of relatively large radii,the upper portions thereof having smaller radii of curvature than the lower portions.

2. An insulating structure comprising a plurality of alternately-disposed conducting and insulating bodies, the insuiating bodies being inclosed within the conducting bodies and spaced therefrom, said conducting bod.- ies being nested in, but spaced from, one an other and consistingo'f bell-shaped members having surfaces of double curvature of rela tively large radii, the upper portions thereof having smallerradii of curvature than the lovver portions 3. An insulating structure comprising a "the conducting bodies being rigidly plurality of alternately-disposed insuiati and conducting bodies, the insulating be being flexibly connected to one another sup-- ported upon the insulating bodies adjacent to said flexible connections, each of said conducting bodies surrounding the insulat ing body Whichis disposed immediately below and consisting oia bell-shaped member having. a surface of double curvature of relatively large radii, said conducting bodies being so nested Within one another as to pro elude undue concentrations ofelectrosrtatic being nested within one another so, that the insulating members adjacent to said flexible connections, each of said conducting bodies surroundingthe insulating body disposed immediately below and consisting" of a bellshaped member having an exterior surface of double curvature; said conducting bodies being nested within, but spaced from, one

'another, the adjacently disposed surfaces thereof being so formed as to preclude undue concentrations of electrostatic fiOW'llllLc. thereupoi'u In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of April, 1915.

h; ARL G. RANDALL. 

